Yeye Letsholonyane’s guilt over Steve Komphela’s Kaizer Chiefs downfall
Reneilwe ‘Yeye’ Letsholonyane, the Kaizer Chiefs legend, has opened up about his lingering guilt over the failures of Steve Komphela’s tenure as Amakhosi coach.
The former Bafana Bafana captain, who was 47 then, replaced Englishman Stuart Baxter, becoming the first local coach of the Glamour Boys since Doctor Khumalo and Ace Khuse shared the position in the 2002/3 season.
He spent three years at the club, resigning after a 2-0 Nedbank Cup semi-final loss to Free State Stars.
After the loss to Ea Lla Koto at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, violent scenes erupted as fans stormed the pitch and attacked players and coaching staff.
Players had to sprint to the change-room when angry supporters invaded the pitch, marking a trophyless end to Komphela’s tenure at the Soweto giants.
Since then, the club has failed to secure any significant silverware, cycling through numerous coaches without success.
Letsholonyane revealed his deep remorse over the team’s inability to secure a trophy during Komphela’s first season, marked by two cup final losses and a significant injury for the former midfielder.
‘WE LET STEVE KOMPHELA DOWN’ – Reneilwe Letsholonyane
“That season ended without winning anything,” Yeye told MSW, referring to the 2015-2016 season, which saw Chiefs reach the finals of the MTN8 and Telkom Knockout but ultimately fall short.
“I even forced myself to come back while still injured because I felt that was a moment we should do well for a young black South African coach.”
The former Bafana Bafana midfielder’s words shed light on the immense pressure Komphela faced as a black coach at the helm of one of South Africa’s most prominent clubs. The prevailing narrative at the time suggested that local coaches lacked the experience and tactical acumen to lead a team of Chiefs’ stature.
“There was this myth that a young black coach can’t coach Kaizer Chiefs,” Yeye explained. “I felt that we let Coach Steve down. Let me say that’s how I felt. I didn’t do enough to try to help another brother stay for the longest time at Chiefs.”
Letsholonyane’s self-blame highlights the deep sense of responsibility he felt towards Komphela. He acknowledged the harsh reality that success, often measured by silverware, is crucial for any coach’s longevity at a big club.
“For me, I know that when you are coaching a big team for you to buy time, you must win something,” he admitted. “If he had won one of the two, it would have been a different story.”
While the coach’s tenure ultimately ended without a trophy, the 41-year-old had previously won two league titles, two MTN8 titles, the Nedbank Cup, and two Telkom knockout titles.
After leaving Chiefs, he went on to win Nedbank and the MTN8 with SuperSport United.
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